Which Global Green Campaign Will Be Recognised As The Most Compelling in 2008?08/
09/
2008

5 September 2008 – Which Global Green Campaign will win over the 2008 Green Awards™ judges? Is there an environmental, ethical or social campaign that your company or organisation has communicated in the last 12 months in more than one country?

This year for the first time, the Green Awards™ is accepting applications from outside the UK for the 'Best Green International Campaign' category. Entries could range from the promotion of a product or service to a public information campaign across any media platform or marketing discipline. These will be judged by a panel of influential media commentators including Baroness Peta Buscombe, Chief Executive of the Advertising Association and Nick Nuttall spokesperson and Head of Media for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The Green Awards™ now in its 3rd year sets out to reward brands and organisations that have communicated some aspect of sustainability to their global audience because the same human activity that has brought freedom and opportunity to billions has also increased the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. It's now crucial that we understand how we can become more awake and engaged with what is happening in the world around us. As business ultimately drives to a large extent what we think, do, use and consume it follows that ones that demonstrating best practice and thought leadership in these areas should be rewarded.

As part of the Royal Society of Arts Environmental Awards Scheme criteria which the Green Awards™ incorporates, entrants are encouraged to provide qualitative and quantitative evidence of the positive sustainable impact of their campaigns and exemplify their green values throughout their operations and not just through their marketing and communications campaigns.

Campaigns will be judged on their originality and effectiveness in communicating on sustainability and environmental issues as well as the quality of the execution. Perhaps our conflicting and contradictory responses to climate change globally are a reflection of the lack of best practice and standards in environmental communications as well as the need to radically rethink our most basic values and hard-won ways of life. That is why an event such as the Green Awards™ has such an important role to play in showcasing the best examples of communications that really make a difference.

Nick Nuttall, Spokesperson and Head of Media for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), said: "The marketing industry is both part of the problem but also a big part of the solution to the challenge of climate change and the wider sustainability challenges facing over six billion people. UNEP is delighted that the Green Awards™ is evolving from its solid base in the UK to inspire creativity and campaigning globally through this new award category".

Changing behaviour is one of the holy grails in environmental communications so if we can only reach people, motivate, inspire, move people in some way, we should see results and ultimately action. This year's winners will be announced at the Brewery, London on November 12th.

To apply for the awards simply visit www.greenawards.co.uk to download a form. Closing date for entries will be September 17th.